A seminar which uses a case history approach and the Socratic method to evaluate legal aspects of geology is described. Water rights law, mineral law, and legal aspects of landslides, subsidence, sedimentation, erosion, and submergence are discussed. Students deal with hypothetical problems and participate in group projects related to these areas.…

Discussion of changes in science education and scientific literacy is presented in the form of a dialog between the author and his alter ego. Structure of science, myths, facts, methods, and critical rationality are considered. Suggests that scientific principles once considered basic and unchanging are giving way to critical thinking. (DH)

Student interest was stimulated and critical thinking skills developed through an "Issues in Social Biology" course which include several topics in genetics. Judicious selection of topics, course format, and ordering of subjects are discussed, along with suggestions for course improvement development. (DH)

Presents a collection of articles to provide chemistry teachers with resource materials to add forensic chemistry units to their chemistry courses. Topics range from development of forensic science laboratory courses and mock-crime scenes to forensic serology and analytical techniques. (JN)

Defines "real world" examples providing rationale for incorporating them into chemistry teaching. Topic areas of papers include: chemistry in a watershed, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), consumer chemistry, culinary chemistry, using real world examples in a laboratory program, projects relating real world chemistry to high school…

Compares safety in the chemical industry to academic chemistry laboratories based on the incidence rate for minor industrial injuries compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the author's estimate of academic rates. Provides a list of over 50 errors and omissions commonly found in chemical laboratories. (JM)

Describes several methods of executing lecture demonstrations involving the recombination of the spectrum. Groups the techniques into two general classes: bringing selected portions of the spectrum together using lenses or mirrors and blurring the colors by rapid movement or foreshortening. (JM)

Describes safety practices for laboratory fume hoods based on certain assumptions of hood design and performance. Also discusses the procedures in preparing to work at a hood. A checklist of good hood practices is included. (JM)

Provides information based on explorations of the Apollo program about the geochemistry of the moon and its importance in developing an understanding of formation/evolution of the solar system. Includes description and some results of orbital remote sensing, lunar x-ray experiments, gamma-ray experiments, alpha-particle experiments, and the Apollo…

Provides information about producing stereo slides and their use in the classroom. Describes an evaluation of the teaching effectiveness of stereo slides using two groups of 30 randomly selected students from introductory geomorphology. Results from a pretest/postttest measure show that stereo slides significantly improved understanding. (JM)

Provides a list of references on creationism divided into six parts covering: books and collections of articles; articles on geological aspects; articles on physics and biological aspects; articles on philosophical and religious aspects; articles on educational, legal, sociological, historical, and public policy aspects; and major creationist…

Outlines Marquette University's response to declining enrollments and financial restraints for its undergraduate biology curriculum, beginning with a description of the old program and its problems. Discusses redefinition of laboratory role, uncoupling and reducing number of laboratories required, teacher responsibility changes, centralized…

Explains the rationale and goals for a physical science course for elementary education majors. Components include: presentation of a science lesson from one of the elementary science programs; hands-on experience with lessons taught by other students; and incorporation of current science-technology-society problems into discussions. Results from…

Factors affecting traditional laboratory instruction in chemistry are discussed. They include: responses to potential hazards in the undergraduate laboratory; student distaste for laboratory classes; equipment and chemical costs; lack of qualified teaching assistants; and faculty pressures to do research. New directions for introductory…

An evaluation study comparing a computer assisted learning-based project with three more conventional ones in an Open University course on evolution is reported. Special attention is paid to reasons why students chose to do different projects and the factors contributing to the variance in the marks awarded for their work. (Author/JN)